Audi abandons combustion engine development

Audi has stopped the development of new combustion engines. In an interview, Audi CEO Markus Duesmann justified the decision with the EU plans for a stricter Euro 7 emissions standard.

In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Duesmann said: “We will no longer develop a new combustion engine, but will adapt our existing combustion engines to new emission guidelines.” The plans for the Euro 7 standard are “technically a huge challenge with at the same time little benefit for the environment”. “This places extreme restrictions on the internal combustion engine,” Duesmann said.

Duesmann did not specify a date as to when Audi would sell the last new car with an internal combustion engine. Instead, the Audi CEO referred to regions of the world where energy supply and charging infrastructure are less well developed. For this reason, Audi will continue to sell combustion engines for many years to come, but will not develop a completely new generation of petrol or diesel engines.

Audi is thus on a similar path to its premium rival Mercedes. About a week ago, Markus Schäfer, the board member responsible for development at Mercedes, also confirmed that no new generation of internal combustion engines would be developed. Schäfer told the Handelsblatt that all development expenditure had been completed for the “FAME” engine family, which was launched in 2016. “This means that the bulk of the investments can now really go into electromobility,” Schäfer said.

Duesmann in Ingolstadt is planning to do the same. Audi wants to offer 20 electric models in five years. Duesmann hopes that the Q4 e-tron, based on the MEB from parent company Volkswagen, will reach new customer groups after the large electric SUV e-tron and the Taycan offshoot e-tron GT. The Q4 e-tron will be “affordable for many people and the entry into e-mobility at Audi”. “It will sell well and ensure significant unit sales,” Duesmann said. The Q4 e-tron will be built at VW in Zwickau.

As at Volkswagen’s ‘Power Day’ held on Monday, Duesmann also confirmed in the interview that the electric sedan, which was initiated as part of the Artemis project, would be launched on the market at the end of 2024. At the “Power Day”, the Audi CEO had also indicated that the vehicle would be the first in the group to use the new cell-to-pack technology of the unit battery cell – this makes it possible to dispense with the modules that are currently customary when arranging the battery cells, which reduces complexity and saves costs.

When asked whether Audi will present the vehicle this autumn at the IAA, which will be held in Munich for the first time, Duesmann gave an evasive answer, but not because of the vehicle. “I wish there was one in the format we have planned,” Duesmann said. “But the pandemic is progressing so unpredictably that my confidence is honestly limited at the moment.”

faz.net (paywall), zeit.demanager-magazin.de (all in German)

39 Comments

about „Audi abandons combustion engine development“
tiger
17.03.2021 um 01:57
oh so so stupid decision, bet everything on 1 card. Did they not learned first time?They will fall...
Adrian
21.03.2021 um 11:02
They don't have a choice, friend. But besides that, understand this 'announcement' properly - it actually means nothing, in the Audi customer's world.
Michael Markowski
17.03.2021 um 21:11
I beleive blue gas is forth coming and electric will fade away.The company should move to blue gas,not electric.It is a waste of time and money.
Joaquin
19.03.2021 um 21:21
It doesn’t exist blue gas, it’s just a fake from petrol man
dwnld.adres@gmail.com
18.03.2021 um 13:11
Blue H2, is a fossile fuel with a more complex distribution system and engine. It is a waste of time, money and environement only pushed by Big Oil. Green H2 could be an option for targeted high energy intensity segments but not for passenger cars.
John W Bernard
17.03.2021 um 17:45
No the end is near and just some people in denial
Maps
17.03.2021 um 03:09
This is the only way to kill the internal combustion engine - overreaching government regulations. If Audi was smart, they would throw their money around and get Euro 7 stopped. I guess it's easier to bend over.
Stuart Mitchell
17.03.2021 um 05:29
Sorry but us mere mortals only earning enough to put just food on the table will never be able to afford any type of electric car,,, so we are stuck with the polluting petrol and diesel engines,,,,
momo
17.03.2021 um 18:07
economies of scale
Rob
17.03.2021 um 11:21
I don't even know where to start with this. Electric cars are proven to be cheaper to own long term - tax, fuel, maintenance, and the fringe health benefits for society are clear. Costs are reducing all the time; The forthcoming VWG SSP platform will reduce battery costs by around 50% for example. Are we still at the early adopter stage? Yes. Will price parity (or lower) come within the next three years? Certainly.
Dave Faulkner
17.03.2021 um 23:53
Can’t see the cheaper to own bit here. EVs cost far more than the equivalent ICE version yet depreciate at the same or higher rate. Just look at used Tesla model S prices. 50% in 4/5 years.Once we eventually get a normal life, I’ll be needing to travel around the U.K. again, some trips were 4+ hours each way, presently ALL EVs would need at least one ‘fill up’ each way, that’s going to add more time than I’d like or am willing to give. Also, unless you can charge for free in an early Tesla, most charger providers electricity charges (that I’ve seen to date) are draconian. If I could, I’d love an EV for all my ‘local’ journeys - within 50 miles and a decent diesel for longer trips but the insurance costs are prohibitive on 2 cars, so I’m stuck with a single petrol or a PHEV. Tax, EVs are only currently zero rated, that’s zero rated, not ‘ not taxed’. That will change soon as the chancellor is already feeling the pinch on car tax. It’s already being discussed by all political parties.
Walt
17.03.2021 um 13:49
I think the challenge comes on the used market. Very few low income people buy new cars. Most electrics (Leaf being a significant exception) haven’t shown severe battery degradation as yet, so maybe it’ll be ok.
David
17.03.2021 um 18:19
It's not just low income people, the wealthiest people I know like to live well below their means, drive average & what some would consider old cars. I don't like spending money on things that depreciate, so while I can afford to pay cash for a model S, I always buy 2-3 year old CPO honda accords.I bought a loaded 2006 Honda Accord EX V6 in 2008 for $18K, just got rid of it 13 years later after I bought it, 15 years into its lifetime. Got a 2018 Accord 2.0T EX-L for $21K certified pre-owned, I expect it to last me dozen years like my previous car, and the 1992 accord before that.When I can get a loaded, gently used electric car with a factory warranty for around $20K. then I'll be interested.I'm currently looking to replace a 13 year old Mazda CX9 SUV with a minivan, probably a Honda Odyssey, maybe a Chrysler Pacifica. These are plentiful in the low $20K range for a gently used model with CPO warranty or some factory warranty left. I could buy this and the used accord for less than a single new electric.The gas savings don't really add up for me, when I consider cost of running new 220V service to the house from street, running service to charger in garage, etc.. and considering how few miles I drive a year (I worked from home for over a decade now, kids take a bus to school).
Peter Szczesiak
17.03.2021 um 09:54
This is a good thing, I know people are addicted to ICE vehicles but for our children and grandchildren we have to use cleaner vehicles
James Spy
17.03.2021 um 22:06
My car cost me £600.00 Less than the cost of 4 new tyres. I would drive an electric car, if I won a competition. Apart from that, at 57 years old, I might as well give up driving.
Peter Borg-Bartolo
17.03.2021 um 12:28
The ICE is probably quickly becoming a horse we cannot bet on in view of the 2050 target. Thinking laterally, electric cars are 'computers on wheels'. Like most technology, as time progresses, technology becomes relatively cheaper, and electric cars will become more affordable, especially if the market is further expanded. There is a lot of current car development and research to produce hydrogen powered electric cars, some of which are already on the market. It is in the interest of any car maker to produce cars that are practical, affordable and acceptable to their customers. We love our ICE but, maybe, that's not the way forward.
David Weitendorf
17.03.2021 um 13:29
Price goes down as sales go up, electric vehicles will be affordable.
Lloyd lyons
17.03.2021 um 18:36
But electric vehicles are soulless and pointless the range is not good enough yet we need to further develop this platform i live in Canada and the only electrical vehicles are testal nothing else. This country's main transportation industry is made up of trucks and SUV. It will be awhile before electric vehicles come here in full force and that makes the purest happy.
Carmine
17.03.2021 um 23:34
More bad policies pushed by the socialist greenies. Wait until the batteries Have to be replaced. All these idiots are going to learn the hard way. Solar, wind, and whatever green nonsense will not generate enough power to charge all of these vehicles so fossil fuels will probably be used. The big winner will be the electric monopoly and whichever politicians are getting the payments. Don’t worry, they won’t stop using oil in their jets and yachts.
Jim J Fox
19.03.2021 um 09:54
Oh dear! A fossil fuel investor who's got burnt! Your lack of knowledge on the current state of electrification is stunning.
Dustin
17.03.2021 um 21:38
Chevy Volt, Nissan leaf just to mention a few. We have plenty of electric vehicles other than Tesla.
Davmol
17.03.2021 um 18:45
Average price of a car sale in the UK is around £12k (most cars are sold used). and charging infrastructure wise, if you don't own a Tesla with access to a supercharger network, it's a huge hassle to charge if you've no driveway.Price parity at £12k for a reliable used family sized EV is many years away. The infrastructure also many years away. On that basis, I think we'll see wide adoption of EVs within a decade but not much before that.
Greggers
17.03.2021 um 23:16
Tesla superchargers don't really help "average" EV owners without driveways, you're much more likely to use charger at a lamppost, or fast charge at supermarket,pub, or restaurant
Jon
17.03.2021 um 19:38
Good for them! The sooner electric vehicles are the norm, the better. As the charging infrastructure, range, battery technologies improve, electrics will outperform ICEs in every way — and improve air quality and reduce carbon footprint.
Jim J Fox
19.03.2021 um 09:55
+1
Stevie b
17.03.2021 um 20:57
IC engines now are absolutely relate versatile comparitivly clean regarding emissions compared to 20 years ago iv worked on diesel engines for the last 50 years and they will take some beating however has anyone seriously done any calculations regarding the production of electrically powered vehicle it seem to me a lot of carbon emissions will be released produced/charging/manufacturing and infrastructure for these vehicle when money might be better spent developing better fuels for ic engines
Jim J Fox
19.03.2021 um 10:02
True enough, Stevie. BUT are you aware of the true costs of fossil fuels? In relation to economic , social and health costs it has been a disaster for the world. Recently I saw an animated video showing these costs from initial drilling to end–use in vehicles and industrial processes. It was a staggering revelation to me, shocking in its overall effect. Just as an example, over 8 million people died in the last year directly from illnesses caused by emissions.I have tried to find this amazing video but damned if I can!
Luiz Antonio Curcio
18.03.2021 um 01:45
Very clever Mr. Duesmann, if the Euro 7 is so difficult to achieve with combustion engine, the standard have decided for you, EV is the answer. Success.
john mcenroe
18.03.2021 um 03:39
So we have to ignore that electric cars just by being manufactured are much more polluent than regular combustion ones due to lithium-ion batteries and those have to be replaced every 10 years ? Yeah this is a paradise for car makers that will exploit these factors to exhaustion
Jim J Fox
19.03.2021 um 10:06
Silly boy, you are years out of date
Jim J Fox
19.03.2021 um 10:03
These comments have been conclusively disproven by proper research. You all to do some research of your own
Geoff wood
18.03.2021 um 11:55
So my V 10 will live on and no doubt appreciate much,in the years to come ,my kids will enjoy watching the value increase
AGMilmoe
27.03.2021 um 23:05
Good luck finding a gas station in 20 years.
Jim J Fox
19.03.2021 um 10:05
Perhaps but I doubt it.
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